March News

Director Makes a Big Trip

Seeing a map of the Ogallala Commons region makes quite an impression…but a driving tour is even more striking.  Last month, I made a 2,000 mile journey.  Leaving Nazareth, TX on the last Saturday of February, I picked up a rental car in Amarillo.  With wind and dust blowing fiercely out of the southwest, I was glad to be driving in the opposite direction.  First, I spent a couple days working with OC Board Member Tom Giessel in Larned, Kansas.  Tom just wrapped up a centennial book project for his local Catholic parish, an illustration of the power of documenting local history and recording stories.  Tom and I also visited Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, and introduced the Student Services and Career Counseling departments to our Community Internship Program. 

Sign at the Center of the United States

Hosts of OC Community Interns in Arnold, NE

Next, I drove north and further east to Lebanon, KS, where I encountered a sign extolling the  “Geographic Center of the U.S.”  Crossing into Nebraska, I made a short excursion to the town of Lawrence, where my grandparents and several other families had migrated from to come to Nazareth, TX in the early 1900s.  Being from the flat Llano Estacado, I was struck again by the hilly terrain of the northern section of the Ogallala Region.  The next day, I drove out of Grand Island on scenic Highway 2, in search of the mythic village of Arnold, NE.  What a treat to finally see this community that produced OC’s first Community Intern from Nebraska!  I was impressed by the variety of community events that happen in Arnold…flowing like the beautiful South Loup River outside of town!  I also traveled to Mullen (deep in the Nebraska Sandhills) to check on another upcoming Community Internship. 

Mojo Express in Atwood, KS

On the “Leap Day” of February, my journey’s arc turned south, and before noon, I arrived in Atwood, KS.  At lunch, I toured an innovative farm and hunting lodge out on Beaver Creek, operated by Jeff and Alice Hill.  Instead of another long drive, I spent the afternoon walking the streets of Atwood, stopping for coffee at the Mojo Expresso, and meeting up with leaders who have worked with OC since 2004.  After supper, OC Advisory Council member Chris Sramek gave me a tour of the newly-renovated county hospital.  Seeing these accomplishments that took years of dedicated vision and work was a boost to my spirit. 

Next morning, I stopped in Leoti, KS for a visit with our newest OC Board Member, Simone Cahoj.  She gave me a quick tour of local assets, and it was great to see the impact that a passionate, dedicated young leader can make in a community.   For the last evening of my journey, I veered far to the west, across the state line to touch down in Campo, CO.  I had a great visit and planning session with OC’s Board Treasurer, Nikki Johnson (and superintendent of Campo Schools).

My journey lasted eight days.  It gave me a chance to connect with our community partners and OC leaders face-to-face and to interact with them in their hometowns.  As I drove for hours, I was memorized by landscapes: so varied and beautiful, even in winter.  For a week, I was a connector of points that we see on that flat map.  It was a cherished time to dream the dream of Ogallala Commons—and for the vision to reshape and recharge me.

Conservation Education Day in Pampa

CED attendees enjoy a presentation

On Feb. 23^rd, Ogallala Commons held a Conservation Education Day and Landowner Luncheon in Pampa, TX, in partnership with Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District and Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District.  Gray County Soil and Water Conservation District also provided logistical and technical assistance.

As a result of the event, Ogallala Commons will be partnering to bring Playa Festivals to Lamar Elementary School in Pampa, and a potential Festival for all three schools in Lipscomb County in this fall, in addition to continuing the Water Festivals in Panhandle and Canadian.  A total of 18 landowners attended the Luncheon, and went home with timely information about aquifer saturated thickness, depletion rates, and more understanding of playas and federal conservation programs.

Playa Festival in Sudan & Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge

On Thursday, March 8^th, approximately 40 students from Sudan Elementary School in Sudan, Texas participated in a Playa Festival! The group was given the ultimate Playa Festival with an all-star lineup of presentations topped off with a visit to near-by Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. 

Robert Martin Shows Sudan Students A Toad!

The day began at 8:30am with an overview of Playas, the Ogallala Aquifer and Nature Journaling with Julie Hodges.  Afterwards the students enjoyed presentations from several presenters, including: Reptiles and Amphibians with Robert Martin of The Nature Conservancy, Playa Raptors with Gail Barnes of The South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Playa Waterfowl and Grassland Buffers with writer and outdoorsman Jim Steiert, Macro-Invertebrates and other wildlife with Melanie Hartman of the US Fish & Wildlife Service and Playa Soils with Julie Hodges. 

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge sponsored the event for the school and provided students with a hands-on afternoon in the field, guided by Refuge Manager Jude Smith.  Students saw a dry playa, a saline lake, and a natural spring.  The Refuge also supplied students with field journals, hand lens, binoculars, and water bottles.

Edward Trevino, Sudan 5^th grade science teacher, was a wonderful host and had prepared his students for the event thoroughly.  Mr. Trevino is already making plans for a Playa Festival for next years students, with hopes of inviting students from Amherst to join in.

Feburary News

23rd Annual Southern Plains Conference A Success:

This year's Southern Plains Conference took place on Feb.8th and 9th in Muleshoe, Texas.  Over 100 people of all ages attended the two day event.  Here are a few words from those who came:

A student from Whiteface Elementary inspects a spring

 at MNWR

Every element of the Conference was outstanding; the Wildlife Refuge tour, the sausage/buffalo stew/venison chili dinner (oh boy, that warm, buttered homemade bread was out of this world) and program at Pep,  the meaningful presentations on Thursday, all the people and the group of college kids, the inspiring tour of the Heritage Center,….the conference was one of the most enriching I’ve ever attended.

Tuda Libby Crews, Bueyeros, NM

 

Thanks so much for organizing such an informative and enjoyable conference in Muleshoe. For those of us usually confined to hotel meeting rooms for conferences, this was literally a breath of fresh air!

Barbara Brannon, Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX

Nita Padaphony and Harry Mithlo speak at the Conference.

"This conference was amazing! I told Darryl I would never miss another one and I meant it. Thanks for everything y'all did to put on such a wonderful 2 day event. Your months and months of preparations are appreciated!"

Laura Wilbanks, Elementary Science Teacher, Whiteface, TX

Bill and I are still talking about the conference. Pulled out our notes and went over with friends in late night discussions already. A great example of doing things right.

Jan & Bill Nieman, Native American Seeds, Junction, TX

In addition to these comments, OC Community Intern Laura Zak wrote this short piece to sum up her experience...

What if our fingers were tape recorders? What if knuckles had buttons and our chapped skin was a red light clicked on to say you’re recording? We could remember every word. Our hands would tell each other stories and we wouldn’t have to retell or recreate what people said.

My hands would say this: two weeks ago, at the Southern Plains Conference, women and men told their stories about water. Water in the Ogallala Aquifer under our feet. Water that moves beneath us and sometimes we don’t even know. And then. All the water we pull from the aquifer at rates it can’t recharge so that one day, sometime soon, the water’ll be gone and the Ogallala will be a story we can only remember. A farmer raised his hand because he didn’t want it to be a story we can only remember. He grows potatoes in Muleshoe. He said he felt like Darth Vadar because he's trying really hard to cut back on water use— he’s done research, bought new equipment and has managed to grow the same amount of potatoes with half the amount of water as he did decades before. But he knows. He knows he's draining the Ogallala, and sometimes you hear these reports and think "well just stop pumping it for agriculture" but that answer is so simple and the issue is so complex.

And then. After the conference, people shook his hand. I like to think that in the moment their hands touched, they were saying you aren’t Darth Vadar. They were saying this isn’t just your fault. No one person is to blame, and we are all part of the problem.

I like to think they shook hands and in their shaking, told each other: we can use our hands to listen. I will listen to your story and you can listen to mine. And in the space where they meet, maybe we’ll find something like understanding. We’ve never gotten anywhere far without understanding. So maybe through this understanding, through the stories we hold in our hands, we can find a way to help.

Spring Internship Profile: Rebecca Hopp

OC Community Intern, Rebecca Hopp

Youth of all ages are invited to use their camera as a tool to explore agriculture in their community. Exploring the Future of Agriculture Through Photography is a program developed by Texas Tech University student Rebecca J. Hopp, and will be the main project of Rebecca’s Ogallala Commons Community Internship Program, with funding from CHS Foundation. 

The goal of this project is to begin a dialogue through photography that addresses why local agriculture is important for the future of our nation and how agriculture based communities are changing.

While it is impossible to know what the future holds for the entire nation, this project will look at the direction of agriculture in four specific communities:

Brownfield, Texas

Nazareth, Texas,

Campo, Colorado

Larned, Kansas

Atwood, Kansas

The youth involved in this project will not only gain photography skills, but also will learn about their community and specific career options in agriculture. Local speakers will help pique interest in specific careers; provide possible mentorship, and present additional community resources.

This collaborative project will result in a collection of unique images that will add to each of the community’s conversations about the future of agriculture. Selected student work will be displayed at local and national exhibitions as well as in a self-published book about the project.

Rebecca currently works as a freelance photographer and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in photography at Texas Tech University. She ultimately plans to pursue a career in education. Rebecca’s goals as an educator revolve around service learning through art. Rebecca is currently a Graduate Part-Time Instructor at the Texas Tech University School of Art, a fellow in the Teaching Effectiveness And Career enHancement (TEACH) Program at Texas Tech University, member of the Society for Photographic Education and a nationally exhibiting artist. She is currently a community intern for the Ogallala Commons. Her work and project blogs can be viewed at www.rebeccajhopp.com. 

OC Community Intern and Partner Recruitment Underway

The spring is busy for OC Staff as they work through the process of recruiting both interns and communities for the internship program.  If you are interested in learning more about the Community Internship Program, visit our Intern Webpage at: http://www.ogallalacommons.org/communityinterns.html or our Community Internship Blog at http://www.ogallalaintern.blogspot.com/.  


If you are a student (High School, Undergraduate, or Graduate) looking for an internship opportunity or if your community or organization would like to host an internship, email Julie Hodges at juliehodges@prairieworkshop.com.   

 

January News

Come To the 23rd Annual Southern Plains Conference!!!

On February 8 & 9, the general public can increase their knowledge of the natural world at the 23rd Annual Southern Plains Conference, with its theme, “Beyond the Windshield: Dwelling in the Natural World “.  The conference, presented by Ogallala Commons, will be held at the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge and Bailey County Coliseum in Muleshoe, Texas.


The Feb. 8th Field Day begins at 11:30am with a lunch in the Bailey County Coliseum, before moving out to Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge for afternoon workshops on springs, prairie chickens, playas, amphibians, birds, controlled burning, and prairie restoration.  An Evening Soiree’ will be held at St. Philip Neri Church Hall in Pep, TX, from 6:00-8:45pm featuring food, music, and a performance art piece.


The Feb. 9th conference begins in the Bailey County Coliseum at 8:15am.  Speakers include Dr. Kevin Mulligan, Dr. David Haukos, Tish McDaniel, Nita Pahdopony of the Comanche University, and stockman-grass farmer Kim Barker of Waynoka, OK.
Those who wish to attend the Field Day, Evening Soiree or Conference can register online or by mail.  For more information, contact Darryl Birkenfeld at 806-945-2255, or to see a complete brochure and register online, visit: http://www.ogallalacommons.org

Turbines + Transmission: a performance art show is a work of creative writing, visual art, and music by Laura Zak

OC Intern Laura Zak

The stories told are pulled from work I’ve done with the wind energy oral history collection housed at Texas Tech University’s Southwest/Special Collection Library. My boss at the time, Andy Wilkinson, started the project to capture the changing landscape of wind industry through the voices of those involved and impacted by areas of development. We have interviewed farmers, landowners, wind developers, municipal leaders, and environmentalists.

Right now, the transcriptions are on digital files in the Southwest/Special Collection Library. Outside of those involved, the stories of turbines, transmission line, and the farmers and ranchers with towers on their land are often untold. Visual artist Kim Cypret and I want to stir these stories and shed light on the changing landscape of Texas because the rural space, the cotton fields, yellow grasses, and mesas are being strung with lattice, metal, and wire. Landscapes turn industrial as cities reach toward towns and the rural areas are left on the edge, waiting for the touch. The performance art show documents this moment of brief suspension.

We don’t want to change minds, force an agenda, call one side bad while the other is good. Rather, the show asks questions. Each piece was made so that the audience could ask for themselves what is beautiful, what is industrial, what we can get used to and what we can’t.

Click here to visit Laura's Blog at http://turbinesandtransmission.tumblr.com/

Upcoming performances:

Junction—January 26^th—Dining Hall at the TTU Junction Campus. 6:30pm reception, show starts at 7:00.

Pep—February 9^th—St. Philip Neri Church Hall. 6:00 pm show as part of the Southern Plains Conference: Beyond The Windshield: Dwelling in the Natural World Southern Plains Conference.

TBA shows in Nazareth and Lubbock

OC Social Media

To date Ogallala Commons operates and maintains a total of 10 blogs! Each discusses various activities that OC is involved with.  The blogs are:

1. Ogallala Community Intern Blogs: In the spring of 2009, we began the Community Intern blogs as a way to keep up with the community interns. (There are 7 total blogs in order to accommodate many interns at once.)  All interns blog regularly, posting photos and documenting their journal through their internships.  The blog really gets hopping during the summer months, when as many as 30 interns are posting weekly! Use these links to learn about their experiences and leave words of encouragement for our interns!

www.ogallalaintern.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern1.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern2.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern3.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern4.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern5.blogspot.com

www.ogallalaintern6.blogspot.com

2. You are currently reading The Place, which is Ogallala Commons Newsletter Blog.  This blog is where we update friends of OC once a month about what we have been up to and share information about upcoming events.  Thanks for visiting!

http://ogallalacommonsnewsletter.blogspot.com/

3. Playa Festival Blog: This blog chronicles Playa Festivals, an outdoor education program conducted by Ogallala Commons in the Fall and occasionally in the spring.  Playa Festivals are one-day events where students, their teachers and communities learn about regional water issues, the Ogallala Aquifer, local flora and fauna, soils, playa wetlands and more! We take the kids outside and have a lot of fun learning about our amazing ecosystem!

http://playafestival.blogspot.com/

4.  Local Llano: This blog was begun in October of last year and explores all things related to local foods.  It has seen a lot of traffic in less than four months.  Each week,  Local Llano offers information about eating, purchasing, preparing, and celebrating local foods.  We hope you will take a moment to have a look.

http://localllano.wordpress.com/

 Ogallala Commons and Local Llano also have facebook pages! So go on and "like" us.

December News

Community Partnering in Kansas 

On November 3^rd, Ogallala Commons conducted a Community Partnering Meeting at the Community Building in Leoti, Kansas.  Community leaders, agency personnel, growers from the area interested direct marketing, and a group of high school students from Campo, Colorado comprised the group of 35 who participated in the gathering.  The morning session focused on OC’s Community Internship Program and youth engagement strategies in general.  After lunch, the topic shifted to the future of agriculture, especially the opportunities for new producers for the High Plains Food Cooperative in western Kansas and eastern Colorado. 

 Chris Sramek, OC Board President and Mark Nightengale of Heartland Mills, Inc. present at Leoti Meeting.

Playa Field Day        
Ogallala Commons held a Playa Field Day at the OC Playa Classroom in Nazareth, TX on November 19th.  It was a brisk morning, but landowners, Master Naturalists, university students, and kids clearly enjoyed seeing live amphibians and reptiles that depend on playa habitat, as well learning about migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.  Another big hit was a presentation by science teacher Laura Wilbanks and four of her 5th Grade students from Whiteface, TX.  The students demonstrated how to make a soft cheese using Silver-leaf nightshade berries as a rennant, and how to make jelly from the tunas of a cactus plant.  In all, 35 people attended the Field Day, which concluded with a field trip to see geese and ducks at ponds in Hart, TX.

Robert Martin of TNC, gave a presentation about amphibians and reptiles.

Youth Entrepreneur Fair in Plainview is a Success 

The fifth annual Ogallala Commons Regional Youth Entrepreneur Fair was held at Plainview Civic Center on Tuesday, November 15th with students from Plainview, Tulia, Dimmitt, Booker and Nazareth competing for cash prizes totaling nearly $5,000.

The event was a collaboration between Ogallala Commons and several partners, including: Plainview Entrepreneur Guide Alliance (PEGA), South Plains College, Wayland Baptist University's Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, Plainview ISD, Plainview Chamber of Commerce and Texas AgriLife Extension-Hale County helped with make the fair possible for local and area students.

Winners of the E-Fair were:

1st Place     Kristin True

 ($1000)      Chance Rollins

2nd Place    Kierra Proctor & Shayla Perry

  ($750)       Brandon Hart & Devin Gunstream

3rd Place     Brian Acker

($500)          Jordan Smoot

Consolation Prizes ($100 each) went to Alex Duarte & Miranda Montgomery and Sierra Dubrule

Read more about the event at:

http://myplainview.com/news/article_c389fdf8-1014-11e1-96d2-001cc4c03286.html 

http://www.ourpeoplenews.com/111611OP.pdf

A student tells a E-Fair judge about her business plan and display.

2011 Campo Youth Engagement Day: What’s Your Dream?
by Megan England
Campo High School was filled with the sounds of students being engaged in their future at the 2nd Annual Campo Youth Engagement Day on November 16th, 2011.
Hosted by the Campo Youth Advisory Council and sponsored by the non-profit community development organization Ogallala Commons, the event was attended by about seventy-five students from Campo, Pritchett, and Vilas schools.
This year’s fifteen presentations came from a variety of backgrounds and locations including multiple colleges (OPSU, OJC, LCC, and WTAMU), the Campo Emergency Services, the Southeast Colorado Hospital District,  the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Campo Youth Advisory Council, the Southeast Colorado Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), Ogallala Commons, local teacher and FFA Advisor Bill Carwin, 4-H extension agent Deborah Lester, and local teacher/personal trainer Cherilyn England.
The purpose of a Youth Engagement Day is to encourage students in rural communities to think about returning home in the future; whether it’s after high school, after college, or further down the road. That goal was accomplished throughout the day as students were shown in multiple ways how making their dreams come true is possible—right in their own backyard. There were presentations on careers in healthcare, business, technology and agriculture, as well as presentations about college rodeo, digital “footprints” in today’s world, volunteerism, leadership, exercise, emergency services, vocational jobs and more.
All in all, the day was rated an overwhelming success, and the Youth Advisory Council would like to thank the wonderful team of presenters and behind-the-scenes workers who helped to put the event together.

The 2011-12 Campo Youth Advisory Council

Students "engage" in team-building activities during a breakout session.

November News

Partnering to Build Internships and Careers

By Darryl Birkenfeld, OC Director

Ogallala Commons and High Plains Food Cooperative are conducting a Community Partnering Meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2011 in Leoti, Kansas.  The meeting will focus on tools and information to assist partners in creating pathways to bring youth and adults back to our hometowns--through internships, new agricultural markets, and other job opportunities.”  Those attending will receive a newly-updated, detailed Community Internship booklet for Community Partners and Intern Supervisors. 

The morning session will focus on creating Community Internships, and cover topics such as how to build successful internships, how to finance them, how to build work plans, etc.  After lunch, the meeting will shift to a panel presentation on the future of agriculture.  Chris Sramek from Atwood, KS, will introduce the work of the High Plains Food Cooperative as one approach to creating new agricultural markets.  Sramek will also cover the creation of a new marketing route along Highway 96 that could connect area food producers to HPFC’s consumer members in the Denver Metro Region.  Contact Simone Cahoj, Director, Wichita Co. Economic Development for more information or to make a reservation for the meeting (620.375.2182)

5^th Annual Youth E-Fair Coming in November

Business ideas from over 60 high schools students will be on display at the 5^th Annual OC Regional Youth Entrepreneur Fair on November 15^th in Plainview, TX.  The Fair will be held on at the Plainview Civic Center, located at 2902 W 4th Street in Plainview, TX.  During the lunch hour from 12noon to 1:15pm the general public will be able to tour the booths that display both potential and already-operating businesses of youth entrepreneurs from Plainview, Tulia, Dimmitt, and Nazareth, TX. 

Entrepreneurs will be awarded points by a panel of three judges based on the following criteria: Business Plan, Interview with Judges, Booth Presentation at the Fair, Network of Support, and Financing Strategies.  Besides earning valuable experience in business planning, conducting interviews, and selling a business idea to the public, top finishers in the contest received cash prizes totaling nearly $5,000, and plenty of encouragement from people who attended the Fair.  Keynote speakers at the 11am session will be 12 students from Booker, TX who operate Kiowa Recycling, and who also receive dual credit in Environmental Science for their work.

Local Llano: A New Way to Learn About Local Food

Ogallala Commons is not one uniform region.  Rather, it is a commonwealth of many distinct regions and localities…each with unique soils, cultures, and cuisines.  Through its Rebuilding Local Food Systems Program, Ogallala Commons works to educate and increase use of fresh, locally-grown produce and foods…something that helps farmers and consumers in our communities. 

In October, Ogallala Commons worked with a group of Community Interns and volunteers to launch a new weekly blog called Local Llano, to offer information and education through stories and photos about locally-grown and prepared food in the Llano Estacado region.  OC Community Intern Briony Haechten handles the maintenance and updating of the blog, and each Wednesday, a new story about growing, purchasing, preparing, and celebrating local foods is posted.  Using the link below, you can check out our blog, and please be use and take a moment to “like” our Local Llano Facebook page!

http://localllano.wordpress.com/

Campo High School Continues to Encourage Students to be Dream-Followers

by Megan England, President, Campo Youth Advisory Council

On Wednesday, November 16^th, 2011, the students of the Campo Youth Advisory Council will host the 2^nd Annual Campo Youth Engagement Day.

This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with exciting break-out sessions led by presenters from various businesses, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, and high schools. The youth are the future of rural communities such as those in Baca County, Colorado and by hosting this leadership, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and career-building day, the Engagement Day planning team hopes to encourage these rural students to follow their dreams, dreams that hopefully include returning home to the Great Plains of Southeast Colorado.

September News

Fall Playa Festival Season is Underway!

A student reaches into a deep crack in the OC Playa.

This year, Ogallala Commons has a full schedule of Playa Festivals at schools in Texas and Eastern New Mexico.  During September and October we will be conducting fifteen Playa Festivals that will include twenty-four schools and over 1200 students, their teachers, parents and community members. 

Each Playa Festival includes presentations from scientists, naturalists and Ogallala Commons staff.  Our presentations include: What is A Playa?, How to Use a Nature Journal as a Resource in the Field, Playa Soils and Plants, Bird Identification, Prairie Raptors, Playa Amphibians and Reptiles, Rainwater Harvesting in Playas and At Home, and Playa Buffers and Waterfowl.  After students rotate through presentations, they take a field trip to an actual playa! We walk through a playa, write in our journals, make observations, collect cool things--seeing, touching, and exploring all of the things we have learned about during presentations.

Every Tuesday and Thursday for the next six weeks, we will be dawning our hiking boots, loading up our bird calls, bags of clay soil and assortments of field guides in order to help children across the Southern High Plains discover the treasures in our own backyards!  Wish us luck.

Playa Management Day on Sept. 14—a Welcome Sight!

The sun sets over a wet playa near Silverton, TX, a rare site in this dry year.

A group of 24 attended our OC Playa Management Day on September 14^th in Silverton, Texas.  Based on returned surveys, 14 landowners with playas attended the event, and our presentations potentially impacted over 80 playas totaling more than 900 acres.

After introductions and some superb presentations on playa hydrology, soils and general playa geomorphology, our group went on tour to see some of the only wet playas for hundreds of miles around (thanks to an 8-inch rain that fell one night in late June).  Our first stop was to a gigantic wet playa south of Silverton near the Briscoe-Floyd County line.  This site gave participants a chance to view typical playa plants: barnyard grass, pink smartweed, curly dock, and arrowhead.  On the way to a second stop just into Floyd County northwest of South Plains, the tour encountered large flocks of ducks and shorebirds on a wet playa along a county road. 

Our main stop was at the farm of Janet Minton (where no big rain fell), to view a recently-established playa buffer.  The buffer, planted in 2009, encircles a 65-acre playa and consists of native grasses as well as 4-wing saltbush and dryland alfalfa for wildlife food.  Adequate buffers are essential for preventing soil erosion from washing into a playa basin, and for offering wildlife habitat.

The workshop was sponsored by Ogallala Commons, in collaboration with its partners: the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Playa Lakes Joint Venture.  

Fifth Annual Youth Engagement Day - Plainview, Tx

The fifth annual Youth Engagement Day was conducted in Plainview, Tx on 09/13/11.  Growing Entrepreneurs Building Businesses is the focus of this event and it was time well-spent on tomorrow's community, state and country leaders.  I was impressed by with the city leaders and business owners who came together to make this year's event  successful.  The students were welcomed by Mayor John Anderson who was pleased to have us come and explore ideas and listen to the stories of local business owners. After our keynote address, the students were divided into 7 investigation teams that interviewed two local businesses after which they gave a 5 minute presentation to the whole group.   

A Plainview High School students shares what she learned during the business tour that was a part of the Youth Engagement Day held in Plainview on September 13, 2011.

My team visited the Crisis Center of the Plains where we learned that you need is a degree to be considered for a position; the training is provided for you.  Our next visit was to the Perry Buildings.  Dr. Collins introduced us to the idea that you can have a job and do other things ...idea...passive income!  This can be accomplished when you find a business partner with your goals but also with the talents that you are weak in.   Combining talents and strengths sounds like common sense but it is difficult to "trust"  that the other person is equally invested.  David Splawn spoke of how the Broadway Brewer came to be and why.  David and his wife knew there was a need for this business and were thinking of ways to have a sustained  income that would allow his wife to stay home with their young children.  The business now takes more time to run than anticipated but it is a successful business in Plainview. 

A group reports their findings after visiting several local businesses.

Students were challenged to develop a business plan to enter in the Youth Entrepreneur Fair in November.  The students were provided detailed instructions on how to develop a solid business plan and inspired by a usable roadmap called "e-DREAMS." (providing a means by way of directions)

This was time definitely well-spent with the youth of Plainview and Hart, Tx. 

Ogallala Commons Newsletter: August (Week 2)

“Be Willing”: Terri Hendrix Concert

(left-to right: Lloyd Maines and Terri Hendrix are joined by Logan Samford on stage at the Home Mercantile)

Despite the best efforts and intentions of our Community Interns, only Julie Hodges and Darryl Birkenfeld made it to the Terri Hendrix concert (along with Advisory Council member Andy Wilkinson), held at the Home Mercantile Building in Nazareth, TX on August 14th. However, Terri had looked over the Intern Blog pages in advance, and dedicated a song during her concert to the interns, our program, and to Miss Julie! The song is titled, "Be Willing" and it is recorded on her "Left Over Alls" album from 2009. A verse from the song is truly reflective of Community Internships: "Be willing/To travel far. The answers are/in the Great Beyond. Be willing to open your mind/to all you'll find/in the Great Unknown."

Another cool Intern-thing that happened at the concert was the affirmation that Terri and Lloyd gave to Logan Samford, an aspiring singer-songwriter from Nazareth, who opened the concert with three songs he penned. Though Logan is only a junior in high school, he in already interested in applying for a Community Internship in Summer 2012, that could help him explore and learn about a career as a locally-based musician.

Where Have all the Interns Gone? (Part 2)

This article is the second half of an article written by OC Intern Megan England, which gives the whereabouts of numerous OC Community Intern alumni.

Katie Hancock (’10) of Lubbock, TX graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Communications in December, then began getting her teaching certification in Technology Applications and Agriculture. She is currently working on her Master's in Secondary Education and recently got hired to teach 8th Grade Exploring Careers at Brownfield Middle School (TX). She also plans to continue her photography business on the side of teaching.

Julie Hodges (’10) of Lubbock, Texas is the Owner/Heritage Planning and Environmental Education Consultant for Prairie Workshop, LLC and Education Coordinator for Ogallala Commons. She graduated in August of 2010 with my Master of Science in Heritage Management and her future plans are to continue working with Ogallala Commons and expand her business with her husband, Jason.

Keshian Hoeffner (’10) is a senior in high school at Campo, Colorado and a Certified Nursing Assistant. She will graduate in May of 2012.

Erin Hoelting (’08) left for Peace Corps in July 2009, and is currently wrapping up a two-year stint with an aquaculture project with small farmers in Zambia. She will be returning to Lubbock, TX in October to wrap up and defend her Master's thesis at Texas Tech University by semester’s end.

Shancee Howell (’10, ’11) of Tribune, Kansas graduated from college in May of 2010, and is currently working on her Masters in Agricultural Business at New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM).

Kendra Huseman (’10) graduated from high school (Nazareth, TX) and is enrolling at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX).

Catherine Jenkinson (’11) of Sharen Springs, Kansas is a high school senior and will graduate in May of 2012. She then plans attend university to major in some sort of liberal arts.

Tabitha King (’10) recently received a job at Dell as an Epic Healthcare Systems Consultant in the Dallas area.

Weston Nieman ('11) is living in Lubbock, TX after graduating with an MBA from Texas Tech University. He is currently exploring job options and looking for a career in sustainable construction and building.

Scarlett Olsen (’10) of Burdett, Kansas is a senior in high school and will graduate in May of 2012, after which she plans to attend college.

Paige Ownbey (’09) of Campo, Colorado is recently married, is a volunteer firefighter, and currently provides day care services at her alma mater, Campo School, where she is also the assistant high school volleyball coach.

DeLesa Perez (’09, ’10, ’11) of Hart, Texas is currently working on a degree in Advertising and Public Relations at West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX). She will graduate in 2013, and then plans to move to a city and run a public relations business.

Daniel Ramos (’10) recently graduated from high school (Dimmitt, TX) and has enlisted with the United States Army.

Sarah Reeves (’11) of Munday, Texas, is working on getting a degree in elementary education/pharmacy technician at Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX). She plans to graduate in December of 2012, and if she doesn’t get a job in the spring, she plans to become certified as a pharmacy technician.

Katy Reynolds (’11) of Tribune, Kansas is majoring in Mass Communications at Northwestern Oklahoma State University (Alva, OK) and has a minor in English. She will graduate in December 2011 with her bachelor’s, then plans to complete her Master’s degree and find a job in the Tribune, Kansas area.

Tess Robben (’09) is currently attending school at Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kansas).

Valeria Rodriguez (’09) is majoring in Biochemistry at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school at Texas Tech University.

Alexis Schwarz (’10) is currently attending college at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska), and majoring in Advertising.

Kevin Von Feldt (’10) of Larned, Kansas is a senior in high school. He plans to graduate in 2012 and attend Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

Kerra Wait (’11) is a high school senior in Pritchett, Colorado. She plans to graduate in 2012 and attend college to study sports medicine, chiropractic medicine, and business. She plans to open her own business after graduating from college.

Kaili Wait (’09) is majoring in Crop Science at Otero Junior College (La Junta, Colorado). In the future, she plans to start a family and work for the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Clay Wimmer (’10) is presently a high school senior in Abernathy, Texas. He is involved with Future Farmers of America and is working on a ranch. He is interested in soil and water conservation and plans to graduate in May 2012.

Sara Wheeler (’10) is currently beginning her sophomore year studying biology and chemistry at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell, OK).

Cara Young (’11) and her husband, Justin, are taking on full-time jobs at High Plains Food Bank and Community Gardens in Amarillo, Texas upon the completion of her internship.

Intern Profile: Delissa Villa Hello everyone,
My name is Delissa Villa. I am from Tulia, TX and attend St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. I am an international business and marketing major and will be graduating in May of 2012. This will be my third summer interning through Ogallala Commons. I am very grateful for the opportunity I’ve had in working with OC...I’ve learned a lot and have grown to value my rural community.

This summer I carried out a one-month marketing internship. I interviewed different business owners in Plainview, Texas, learned about the marketing department at Soil Mender Products, LP, in Tulia, TX, and worked with Casa del Llano, a small nonprofit organization in Hereford, Texas.

The entrepreneurs that I interviewed have been very successful in their businesses and here are some key lessons I learned were: what inspired them to start the business, marketing techniques, and how they are successful in rural communities. These interviews provided valuable information that I will use in the future when I open up my own business. I would like my business to focus on “health education”. With the growing rates of obesity in the United States, there is a need to educate. In my community, I believe there is a particular need in educating Hispanic women. My ideal business would incorporate healthy cooking classes, fitness classes, and health education classes.

Intern Profile: Weston Neiman
My name is Weston Neiman and I grew up in Junction, Texas. I went to college at New Mexico State University where I earned a Bachelors of Business Administration and played football. After NMSU, I decided to further my education by attending Texas Tech, and graduated with my MBA last December. I am now trying to make the transition into a meaningful career, and in doing so, I was referred to an Ogallala Commons Internship by my sister. The weekend I graduated, all of my family was up in Lubbock. After my graduation, I went snowboarding in Colorado and somehow my parents set up a tour with Darryl. The first couple of months after my graduation, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and decided I was interested in sustainable building. That's when it clicked for my sister, and how I ended up as an OC Community Intern this summer.

My whole life I have been interested in sports and hunting. I am very competitive and if you want to motivate me, turn the task into a game and you will be surprised at how much more productive I am. I grew up very connected to the earth and being respectful of our resources. My parents started a small business called Native American Seed that sells only native wildflower and grass seeds to landscapers, government projects, and individuals.

During my internship I met so many people and made so many connections in the sustainable development world. I feel like this internship has been a little blessing in the disguise of a little bit of work…I am very grateful for…the learning experiences and friends I made along the way.

Intern Profile: Adan Peña
My name is Adan Peña, but everyone just calls me Adam. I was born in Dimmitt, Texas and raised in Nazareth, Texas. My parents’ names are Joann and Gilbert Pena. I have two sisters: April and Angelica, and a cousin who was raised in my household named Ramon. I am bilingual--fluent in Spanish and English. I recently graduated from high school in 2011. I am [going to] attend Baylor University in the fall and double major in Economics and Philosophy

I was asked by Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld to participate in this internship and was very excited to join. Although this is my first year, this internship has done a lot of good in our small community. I [have done] many projects, such as: helping my community with a weekly salad, helping another intern with a cemetery history project, and [improving] on a community map. I [even got] my first experience with planting a garden, and launching a new blog for our “Swift Kicks” or our community news.

In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family, reading the bible, playing video games, and living this gracious gift called life to the fullest.

The OC internship was definitely a great way to end my senior summer in my small community. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if anyone would benefit from my summer internship; I came to discovery that I benefitted from the internship most of all.